Vulcanizer



R. w. BROWN VULQANIZER Filed oct. v. e19,25' 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 20,1927.

INVENTOR. Rar ifs/.BRG WN IAT'TORNEY.

sept. zo, 1927. R w BROWN vULcANIzER Filed oct. v. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

v owwnowy ATTORNEY.

lyin elevation, showing Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

` '1,643,196 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

RCY W. BROWN, O AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRESTONETIRE .AND RUBBERCOMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Application led October 7, 1925. Serial No. 60,951.,

This invention relates to vulcanizers of the autoclave press type fortires-and the like.

In the vulcanization ofv tires, it has been proposed'to mount the sameon expansible cores and enclosethem in molds which are placed in aheater and pressed together, usually in a stack, while, an expansiblecuring medium, such as steam or steam and alr in admixture, is conductedunder pressure into the expansible cores. It has also been proposed todispense4 with the cores and to conduct the medium directly yinto thetires.

The present invention relates to means for effectively draining thesupply system for either the cores or the tires, depending upon which ofthe above procedures are practised, whereby uniformity of cure is0bt-ained. Y I

The conducting of an expansible curlng medium into the molds is usuallyeected through a sectional manifold adapted to be assembled ordismantled as the molds are stacked or unstacked in the heater and, inparticular, the'present invention relates to an attachment for suchmanifolds whereby the condensate is automatically removed from themanifoldsyst-em after each vulcanizing operation is completed so thatsubstant-ially dry steam will be supplled to the cores or tires at eachvulcanizlng operation.

The objects of the invention are obtained by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to the specicY formthereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectlonal view parta portion of' a standardautoclave Ipress for vulcanizing tires and equipped with a deviceembodying the invention; l

Fi ure 2 is a plan of a ortion of the ram showing the device of theinvention mounted thereon; and Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the vertical cylindrical heatervessel which is of standard construction and has operable throughout theheight thereof, a lrarn 11 on.'

which the tire molds 12, 12 are stacked with tires indicated at 13mounted on expansible bags `shown at 14 enclosed therein. The stack ofmolds 12 is pressed during vulcanization against the usual removablelocking cover plate 15. y Y

For supplying steam or steam and air to the bags 14, each has connectedthereto a flexible connection 16 extending to a manifold section 17,sections 17 being adapted to be assembled. or dismantled as the moldsare stacked inor removed from the heater as will be understood byskilled artisans.

According to one mode of practising the present invention, the bottommanifold section is connected onto a drainreceptacle 18 mounted on ram11 and formed of arc shape (Figures 1 and 2) so as to partly encirclethe ram about the stack of molds 12.

The supply of steam or mixtures of air under pressure and steam to themanifold may be secured by means of a flexible hose 19 connected onto anipple 20 extending through the wall of the vulcanizer and connectedwith -an air supply line 21 through a valve 22a steam supply line 23through a y valve 24, and a. blow-olf line 25 having a cock 26 therein.

' Hose 19 is connected onto a vpipe 27 mounted on 4receptac1e18 andconnected by one branch 28 toan inlet 29 in the top of said receptacle,branch 28vhaving a check valve 288l therein, and byanoth'er branch 30providing an outlet 31 from adjacent the bottom of receptacle 18,Vbranch 30 having a check valve 30a therein.

In operation, after the molds are stacked in the heater in the mannershown, steam or steam and air mixtures are supplied thereto by operationof valves 24 or 24 and 22, the steam or. stearnfand air mixture beingconducted by hose 19 through branch -28 into During vulcanization, thecondensate formed in the manifold system drains downl into receptacle18. Considerable condensate -usually forms since the steam supplied thebody of the heater is usually at .a much lower temperature' and pressurethan that suppliedcto the interior of the tires. When the vulcanizationhas been completed, steam is blown off from the heater, valves 24 and 22Steam is also supplied to the heater chamber in the customary v way.

are closed, and cock 26 is o ed. This permits the steam to blow H 1n thebags through rece tacle 18. Pressure of the steam will close c eck 28*and accordin ly any water in receptacle 18 will be force outof the recetacle by the steam past check valve 3()` up t rough hose 19 and out ofblow-0E pipe 25. The manifold system will thus be reed of Water and willbe ready for reuse non-uniform cures due to the presence oi water in theinternal pressure cure supply system being effectively prevented.

Modicatmns of the invention Ymay be resorted to vwithout departing fromthe spirit thereof or the sco e of the appended claims.

What is clame is:

1. Apparatus for curing hollow rubber articles, comprising means forconductin steam into the interior of the article, a vesse adapted toreceive condensate from the said means draining therefrom by gravitywhile the article is curing, and means for blowing oif steam from theinterior of the article said vessel being so disposed in the blow-o linethat the steam will force the condensate d inthe notarse eendensate fromthe recatacle when-the e curing operasupply line connected to saidconductor, a:

blow-oil valve in the conductor, and a receptacle arranged in theconductor for collection of condensate draining from the conductorsystem, said conductor being pro-V vided with branches, one having anoutlet in the top of the receptacle, the other an in let at the bottomof the receptacle, a check valve in the rst branch adapted to open tothe rassure of steam being forced into the artic e, and a check valve inthe second branch 'adapted `to open to the pressure of steam being blownoi from the article whereby the drainage will be forced. from thereceptacle.

4. Apparatus for curing tires in a stack of molds in a heater press,comprising a sectional manifold, branches -from the manifold to eachtire, a condensate' receptacle connected'onto the bottom of themanifold, a conductor for supplying steam to the-mani fold through saidreceptacle, abranch from theconductor connected to van opening 1in.

the te of the receptaclda second branch from t e conductor having aninlet thereinto adacent the bottom of the receptacle, a vcheck va veopening to the incomin steam'in the iirst branch, and a check v ve' onin to to the blow-0E in the g second brano ROY W.l BROWN.

